Barcelona Airport BCN

Overview

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona - El Prat Airport, previously named Barcelona-El Prat and also known as El Prat Airport is an international airport. BCN airport is owned by ENAIRE.

BCN is located 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of the center of Barcelona, lying in the municipalities of El Prat de Llobregat, Viladecans, and Sant Boi, in Catalonia, Spain, Europe.

Airport Stats & Facts

• Barcelona Airport is the second-largest and second busiest airport in Spain.
• It is the sixth busiest in Europe.
• Until 2008, The Barcelona–Madrid air shuttle service, known as Pont Aeri (in Catalan) literally Air Bridge, was the world's busiest route until 2008.
• In 2019, Barcelona Airport handled a record of more than 52 million passengers.

Airport Traveling Tips

• For an international flight, passengers are advised to arrive 3 hours before the departure time, and for a domestic flight, 2 hours before the departure.
• Before heading to the airport for a flight, please have a look at the BCN Airport map.
• To ensure a smooth check-in process, passengers should pack carry-on luggage in a suitable manner, have photo ID ready, and read all the airline guidelines properly prior to arriving at the airport.

Passenger Pickup and Drop-off

• The main T1 car park building at Barcelona Airport offers direct access to Terminal T1. It is the best option for picking up or dropping off passengers.
• Also, the other option is the roadway to Departures in Terminal T1 and to Departures/Arrivals in Terminal T2 (A, B, and C), for vehicles accessing the main entrance to the terminals, allows users to park in order to drop off and pick up passengers quickly and easily.

Flight Status

• For arriving flights: Arrival flight status provides the arrival times, gate information, delays, and time to land for the Barcelona Airport.
• For departing flights: Departing flight status lists scheduled vs actual departure, gate information, map tracking, and flight delays.
• To get the best fares, book a flight at BCN here.

Airport Terminals

Barcelona Airport has 2 Terminals - Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. For more information, and to see the terminal locations, please refer to the BCN terminal map.

Terminal 1

Designed by Ricardo Bofill, Terminal 1 was inaugurated on 16 June 2009. It is split into 5 Modules:

Module A handling flights to Madrid

Module B handling Schengen flights

Module C handling Air Nostrum flights

Module D handling non-Schengen European flights

Module E handling non-Schengen non-European flights

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is divided into three linked sections - Terminal 2A, 2B, and 2C. Terminal 2B is the oldest part of the complex still in use, dating back to 1968. Terminals 2A and 2C were added in order to expand the airport capacity before the arrival of the 1992 Summer Olympics held in the city.

Airlines Served

A variety of airlines are served at Barcelona Airport including Vueling, Ryanair, EasyJet, Delta Air Lines, Level, Emirates, and many more.

View the full list of airlines served at Barcelona Airport here.

Airport Parking

Barcelona airport has nearly 20,000 parking spaces, of which 12,000 are in the parking lots of the T1 and 8,600 in the T2.

General Parking

It is the official parking and has direct access to the terminal. The general parking has 9, 300 parking places.

Surface Parking

It is a few meters far away from the terminal and is connected via a gateway. Surface parking has 1,600 places.

Long-Term Parking

The Long-Term Parking (995 places covered/uncovered) is 2 kilometers far away from the T1 and has a shuttle that runs every 5 minutes.

Standard Parking Rates at BCN Airport:

1 minute to 3: € 0.057750/minute

31 minutes to 120: € 0.055/minute

From 121 minutes: € 0.050/minute

Daily maximum up to four days: 20.95 €

Daily maximum from the fifth day: 16,00 €

Ground Transport

There are many ways passengers can get from Barcelona Airport. From rental cars to public transport to taxi, plus more, travelers can choose among a variety of options available after arriving at the airport.

Car Rental

At Barcelona airport, there are several car rental companies offering their services at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Avis, Europcar, Hertz, etc. are some of the renowned providers for rental cars.

Taxis

Taxi is without doubt the fastest way to leave Barcelona Airport but not necessarily the fastest way to get to your destination. Taxi Stops are in front of terminals 1 and 2.

Public Transportation

Buses & trains are a great way to travel from BCN Airport. Aerobús is the fastest way to reach Barcelona city Centre with public transport. There are two lines that connect T1 and T2 with Plaça Catalunya. The train is located in Terminal 2. It’s a few minute’s walk from any terminal and runs from the airport to Barcelona city every 30 minutes.

Amenities & Services

For visitors to have a great stay, Barcelona Airport provides a myriad of amenities and services including:

• Store, gift shops, and local souvenir shops.
• Restaurants, bars, and cafes.
• Shoeshine stations, and massage bars.
• Free Wi-Fi internet throughout the airport.
• Multiple art installations and exhibits on display.
• Vending machines, and banks/ATMs.

Contact Information

Address: Barcelona Airport, Viladecans, Catalonia, 08820, ESP

Website: http://www.aena.es/es/aeropuerto-barcelona/index.html

Contact: bcninformacion@aena.es

Phone: +34 91 321 1000

Barcelona Airport: A Brief History Timeline

• Located at El Remolar, Barcelona's first airfield began operations in 1916.
• In 1948, a runway was built.
• Between 1948 and 1952, a second runway was constructed.
• In 1963, the airport reached one million passengers a year.
• On 1 February 2014, Barcelona–El Prat was the first Spanish airport to receive a daily flight with the Airbus A380-800.
• In December 2016, International Airlines Group (IAG) announced flights from Barcelona to the US, Latin America, and Asia for the summer of 2017.
• During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a serious decrease in passenger, operations, and cargo numbers.

Airport FAQs

Q: Is Barcelona Airport the same as BCN?

A: Yes. While the official name is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, it is also referred to by its IATA code BCN.

Q: What cities can I fly from BCN?

A: You can fly to many cities from BCN Airport. Please have a look at our direct flights page to see where you can fly.

Q: Can I sleep at Barcelona Airport?

A: The airport remains open 24 hours a day and passengers are permitted to sleep inside the airport, and they can also stay inside overnight. Also, air rooms are provided for this purpose.

Q: Is there a baggage drop-off service?

A: Yes. There is a baggage drop-off service located in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 near the arrivals hall.